Teaching can be one of the most rewarding jobs you ever do in your life. But teachers, in general, don’t trumpet about their work from the rooftops. Instead, they’re often quite quiet about it.
In this post, therefore, we share some of the things that teachers think about their jobs, but will never tell you. Perhaps it’ll get you interested in becoming an educator.
Teaching Is An Art Form
If you think that teaching is a procedural process, you’re sadly mistaken. Teaching is an artform in itself and something that you only really understand when you’ve been in the game for a long time. Communicating ideas to students in a way that engages them is extraordinarily challenging, but rewarding if you can get it right.
Teachers Don’t Just Teach
Teaching isn’t just about communicating about a subject. It’s also about helping students deal with some of the emotions that they have to face as they study and grow up. An art teacher can very quickly become a coach or a therapist for a student.
Teachers often like it when students open up to them. It shows that there is a degree of trust between them.
Teachers Are Affected By How Their Students Feel
How students feel matters a great deal to teachers. Their struggles and pains are important to them. If a child is going through a tough family situation or facing deportation, then it can affect the teacher as well.
Teachers Seek Out The Most Rewarding Work
The Teach for America program is incredibly popular at the moment. That’s because so many teachers are seeking out the most rewarding work. They recognise that they are in a unique position to help kids and give them a leg up in their lives.
Teachers View Their Students As Their Kids
It might sound strange to say, but a lot of teachers care for their students as though they were their own kids. Teachers, just like parents, feel attached to the children in their care. They will often do whatever they can to ensure that they succeed long-term.
Teachers Like It When Students Stay In Touch
Teachers like to sometimes stay in touch with their students. They want to find out how their lives develop and progress. They also want to stay in contact because it provides a bit of continuity in their lives. It can be a strange experience dealing with a new cohort of young people every year.
Teachers Look For Ways To Make Their Subject More Interesting
Top teachers are always looking for ways to make their subjects more interesting. They know that if they can appeal to students, they will learn much better. The best educators find ways to make even the driest of topics seem like fun activities. It’s not easy, but if you can pull it off, your colleagues will call you a hero.
Teachers Do Extra Work For Their Students
Lastly, most teachers go above and beyond to contribute to the student community. Many run after school activities or summer classes.